Building a budget 383 short block what do I REALLY need?
 

I have my motor down it needs to be bored. I have LE2 heads/ Cam and all the supporting mods and want to make it a stroker. What parts are recommended and what needs to be done to the block and what needs to be checked. Don't want to spend a ton and was looking at a few rotating assy on the net for around $1000.00. Is it best to get an internally balanced one with a new flywheel? Thanks for your help.

help?

if your trying to do it on the cheap I wouldn't bother...just put some good parts in your 350....

a $1000 rotating assym is going to be..not so good to say the least

you can use you old flywheel if you want it balanced...just remember heavy metal is expensive...and you need that to balance it

if you just freshen up the 350 good pistons/rods rings and stock crank will be alot cheaper

if I was going to build a stroker I wouldn't use a cheap cast crank....I wouldn't break the bank to try and do a budget build

If your not going for big #'s just go with a cast crank, some "I" beam rods from Scat or Eagle and some forged pistons. For the block just take it to a shop and tell them you need it bored over and clearanced for a 383 they will know what to do. I believe internaly balanced would be better.

Remember that the LE2 cam is a 350-355 cam not a 383 cam, so for best results you should change that as well.

A 355 is more budget oriented than a 383 when you are not starting from scratch on everything.

Bret

I'm building a 355LT1 right now with Mahle forged pistons, SCAT 6" I-beams with 7/16" rod bolts---(shaped like a Lunati ProMod), and stock crankshaft.

It looks like I'm going to come in under $2500 for the whole rebuild.

$845 for machine shop work on block--.030" over, deck, align hone,
$1190 for the rods, pistons, all gaskets, Mahle bearings, Cloyes oversized stock style crank timing sprocket, Cloyes stock replacement timing chain.
$250 to balance the crank to the lighter rods/pistons,
$25 for cam bearings, $10 for block core plug kit,
$200 bucks for odds and ends like paint, sealant, pizza

Thinking about thowing pocket ported GM LT4 heads on it with a Crane street solid roller cam<---proven to work very well on an old 383LT1.

The big cost on that rebuild is the $500 Mahle pistons.
The plan is 11.60 in a 1995 Impala SS

Karl

Honestly after months of reasearch i found thats its around the same cost to just buy a Golen 383 shortblock. Buy the time you buy all the parts, pay shipping, and pay a machine shop for all there work, it going to cost you over 2700.00. Golen sells there budget 383 shortblock for that, and you dont need a core. You can sell your old shortbock for $200.00, and now you only paid 2500.00, 305 guys would like your old cam, and roller lifters, thats another $50.00 coming your way.

Which is a KILLER deal considering it comes with wrist pins AND rings! :)

For the non do-it-yourself-er Golen is a great place to go. He's gone to Mahle pistons now and that's as good as it gets for the money.

Karl